Reach for Me
(Friend-Zone Book 2)
October 31, 2016
Synopsis:
When Ashley's high society life
crumbles around her in the space of one afternoon, she's forced to swallow her
pride and move back home to Dallas. Having lost both her husband and her career,
she takes up a job at her father's restaurant under her little sister
Adrienne's management. After months living with her parents, she decides to
move in with her coworker and friend, Shane. Ashley vows to never let a man
cause her life to come crashing down around her ever again. Never will feelings
cause her to make "stupid decisions."
Of course, that's before she knew Shane. Can she
resist his charms? Not to mention, blue eyes, tattoos, and a ride on his
motorcycle.
Excerpt:
I slip out of the cab
with my eyes on my iPhone, texting and emailing as I walk into my apartment
building. My high heels click on the pavement as the doorman greets me by name,
tipping his hat to me. I don’t acknowledge him.
My
modeling clients demand most of my time. Today, however, I had my assistant
clear a two hour block on my schedule, so I can surprise my husband, Jake, at
home.
I
push the elevator button without lifting my eyes. The door slides open and I
step in, vaguely aware of another body standing in the back. The third floor
button lights up after I push it with my manicured finger.
Sliding
my phone into my purse, I unlock the door to my apartment. There is a bottle of
scotch on the coffee table beside three empty glasses. He must have had a
client. He often has meetings at home before his photography sessions.
The
walls of my apartment are graced with large, black and white photo prints of
breathtaking landscapes and angelic faces of models, all taken by my husband.
I
toss my purse onto my black, leather couch, then kick my shoes off. That is
when I hear it.
The
sound of a female giggle floats down the hall from my bedroom.
Something
hard forms in my stomach, cold like a snowball running downhill. It grows
larger and larger with every step down the hall to the closed door. I hold my
breath as I step, straining to catch the sound again. Maybe it was the
television, or the radio.
My
ears perk. A woman is moaning.
Plush,
white carpet tickles my toes as I step silently, reaching the door. I lean in,
putting my ear on the door.
A
female voice, mingled with a male’s touches my ears. A third male voice joins them. What the hell
is going on? My blood is rushing, as I pull my ear away from the door. I know
that I need to open it, but what is on the other side is terrifying me.
I
take in a gulp of air in an attempt to calm myself. My hand trembles as I grip
the doorknob.
“Oh,
God…yes.”
The
snowball that formed in my stomach is now a heavy rock, making me nauseated as
I push the door open.
Three
heads pop up in my bed, eyes wide and faces growing ever paler, as they look on
me standing in the doorway of my bedroom.
“For
fuck’s sake, are you kidding me?” I call out.
As
I turn to rush out, my husband scrambles out of the middle of the trio, agile
for his forty-two years, leaping over them and off the bed.
As
I rush down the hall, tears leak from my eyes. Pausing, I snatch up my purse
with shaking hands, and step into my shoes, as a lump forms in my throat,
choking me.
“Ashley,
wait… baby…” he calls to me.
Spinning,
I am greeted by a stark naked Jake. When he reaches for me, I slap him. The
sound of my palm hitting his flesh is loud in the room. A red palm print blooms
on his cheek; he doesn’t blink.
“Don’t
baby me! In my bed, are you serious? What the fuck, Jake? Having a twenty-five
year old wife isn’t enough for you?”
He
blinks at me for a second. I hear shuffling coming from my bedroom, hushed
whispers.
“You’re
not ever home in the afternoon…” he begins.
“Oh,
pardon me. Next time I will be sure to check your schedule for orgies before I
come home to see you. Is this why you won’t touch me?”
I
dash my tears away with angry hands, pulling away when he tries to touch me
again. I don’t even know why I’m asking; I don’t care anymore. I should’ve
expected this. Today was my last effort to do something with the disaster that
has become my marriage; sleeping alone, always wondering where he is. I buried
myself in my work as a distraction. This morning, I decided I should try. Maybe
I’m not giving him enough attention.
This
is what I get for trying.
“I
didn’t mean it like that. I’m sorry. I think we need to talk. Can you let me
get rid of them?”
I
look into his face, unsure of what I expect to see there. He is seventeen years
older than me. I’ve spent the last four years of my life with him. This man
made my modeling career a success and helped me when I wanted to give it up to
become an agent. Now, I stand eye to eye with him and I see no love in his
eyes. No panic that he has lost me. Just the same cold, black stare coming from
deep, brown eyes that I always see.
He
looks at me like I am his sister or his friend. He has that super handsome
distinguished thing going on. Think about those older men that only get better
with age. Sean Connery, Brad Pitt, Richard Gere. You could slide Jake Riverside’s
name right into that list and no one would argue with you.
“There
is nothing to talk about.”
He
opens his mouth to say something, and I see a blonde head pop out of my room. I
recognize her. A new modeling client my
boss, Michael, signed last week. She is twenty years old with the fresh face of
an angel and body of a porn star. Looking terrified, she slips past me in jeans
and a tight-fitting, pink sweater, headed for the front door.
I
let her go without a word. What’s the point?
I
have more to say to the second body that pops out of my room, however. Michael.
He stands in the hallway still buttoning his shirt, his eyes darting between
Jake and me.
“You’re
fucking kidding me!” I yell, shoving Jake
with all my weight.
He
stumbles backwards a few steps, but catches himself before he falls.
“Ashley,
it just happened. We didn’t mean to…” Michael stammers.
The
head of my agency. He owns the damn thing. My boss. The man that made me one of
the most successful fashion agents in New York City.
“You
didn’t mean to what? Have a threesome with my
husband in my bed? Ruin my marriage?
What the fuck did you mean, Michael?”
About Rachael:
I'm a police dispatcher/ 911 operator,
and a romance writer. I like to say that writing is my full time hobby, but
it's in my blood just as answering 911 is.
I'm a wife and mother. I live in the Houston,
Texas area with my husband of twelve years and our three year old son. We all
live happily with our yellow Lab, Daisy and our African Grey parrot, Sassy,
When I'm not writing or working, you can usually
find me at home enjoying quality time with my husband and son, or maybe a large
family get together with my fantastic extended family.
